Marijuana Substance THC May Battle Lung Cancer

While smoking marijuana is never good for the respiratory system, the component in pot may aid in lung cancer, new analysis has revealed. Stanford School scientists have found that, in both clinical and rabbit analysis, delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) reduces growth development in half in common lung cancer while preventing the cancer’s ability to propagate.

The compound “seems to have a suppressive impact on certain collections of melanoma tissues,” described Dr. Len Horovitz, a lung professional at Lenox Mountain Medical justify in New You are able to Town.

According to the scientists, THC battles lung cancer by reducing skin development factor (EGF), a compound that encourages the development and propagate of particularly competitive non-small cell lung malignancies. “It seems to go to (EGF) receptor sites on tissues and restrict development,” said Horovitz, who was not involved in the analysis.

The results are initial, however, and other outside experts advised warning. “It’s an interesting clinical analysis (but) you have to have enough additional animal analysis to create sure the impact is reproducible and to create sure that there are no obvious harmful effects,” said Dr. Gary Edelman, primary medical official of the Lung cancer Lung Organization. “It’s a little more than enticing because it’s a substance that we know has been in people and has not triggered major problems.”

The results were to be provided this week at the yearly conference of the Lung cancer Organization for Cancer Research (AACR) in Los Angeles. Lung melanoma is the number one melanoma fantastic in the world. Lung malignancies that over-produce the EGF receptor tend to be extra-aggressive and don’t react well to radiation treatment.

THC is the main component of Cannabis sativa — marijuana. It has been shown to restrict growth development in melanoma, but specific information on its action against lung cancer has so far been limited.

In the new analysis, the scientists came out that two different lung cancer collections, as well as examples from individual lung malignancies, created the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Endocannabinoids — cannabinoids created normally in the body — are thought to have an impact on pain, anxiety and swelling when they combine to cannabinoid receptors.

Next, the scientists handled standard amounts of THC into rats inserted with human lung cancer tissues. After three weeks of treatment, malignancies shrank by about 50 percent in creatures handled with THC, compared to those in and without treatment control group, the scientists revealed.

The results may highlight a question that has been confusing Horovitz: Why has not there been a raise in lung cancer in the generation that used a lot of marijuana in the Sixties.

“I find it amazing, thinking if the reasons we’re not seeing this raise is that THC prevents lung cancer tissues,” he said. “It would be very interesting, although you certainly would not tell somebody who used cigarettes to add marijuana.”

A second set of results provided at AACR recommended that a viral-based gene treatment could target both primary and far away malignancies, while neglecting healthy tissues. When handled into 15 rats with prostate melanoma, this “smart bomb” treatment removed all signs of melanoma — effectively treating the rats or rodents. Researchers at Mexico School, in New You are able to Town, said the treatment also worked in creatures with breast malignancies and melanomas.

And in a third optimistic test revealed at the conference, In German scientists at School Kid’s Medical justify, in Ulm, said they have used measles malware to cure mind malignancies. In rabbit tests, the virus connected to the growth from the inside out, the team said.